The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of education about urinary incontinence on the subsequent help-seeking behaviors of older adults. Fortyfive community-dwelling seniors were randomized to two groups. One group received individualized instruction supported by written information; the other received written information alone. All participants received a list of local health care professionals specializing in the assessment and treatment of urinary incontinence. Seventeen participants sought professional help following the intervention; however, there was no significant difference in help-seeking behaviors between intervention groups,c2 = 1.42,a= 0.05. The most common reason for lack of help-seeking postintervention was a preference for self-care. Eighty-eight percent of those who initiated self-help behaviors reported a subjective improvement in the frequency or volume of their incontinence. Results emphasize the important role registered nurses should play in the dissemination of complete and accurate information about urinary incontinence.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Angelotti, R.
, & Wellings, C. (1989). A time for change. Australian Nurses Journal, 9(4), 25-27.
2.
Beguin, A.
, Combes, T., Lutzler, P., Leffond, G., & Belmin, J. (1996). Health education improves older subjects’ attitudes towards urinary incontinence and access to care: A randomized study in sheltered accommodation centers for the elderly. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 45, 391-329.
3.
Branch, L.
, Walker, L., Wetle, T., Dubeau, C., & Resnick, N. (1994). Urinary incontinence: Knowledge among community-dwelling people 65 years of age and older. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 42, 1257-1262.
4.
Brink, C.
, Wells, T., & Diokno, A. (1987). Urinary incontinence in women. Public Health Nursing, 4(2), 114-119.
5.
Brocklehurst, J.
(1990). Urinary incontinence in old age: Helping the general practitioner to make a diagnosis. Gerontology, 36(2), 3-7.
6.
Diokno, A.
, Brock, B., Brown, M., Fultz, N., & Herzog, A. (1988). Urinary incontinence and psychological distress among older adults. Psychology and Aging, 3(2), 115-121.
7.
Fantl, J.
, Newman, D., Colling, J., DeLancey, J., Keeys, C., Loughery, R., McDowell, B.J., Norton, P., Ouslander, J., Schnelle, J., Staskin, D., Tries, J., Urich, V., Vitousek, S., Weiss, B., & Whitmore, K. (1996). Urinary incontinence in Adults: Acute and chronic management(Clinical Practice Guidelines, No. 2). Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
8.
Fried, T.
, Rosenberg, R., & Lipsitz, L. (1995). Older community-dwelling adults’attitudes towards and practices of health promotion and advance planning activities. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 43, 645-649.
9.
Goldstein, M.
, Hawthorne, M., Engberg, S., McDowell, B., & Burgio, K. (1992). Urinary incontinence: Why people do not seek help. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 18(4), 15-20.
10.
Grady, K.
, & Wallston, B. (1988). Research in health care settings. London: Sage.
11.
Grimsby, A.
, Milsom, I., Molander, U., Wiklund, I., & Ekelund, P. (1993). The influence of urinary incontinence on the quality of life of elderly women. Age and Ageing, 22, 82-89.
12.
Herzog, A.
& Fultz, N. (1988). Urinary incontinence in the community: Prevalence, consequences, management, and beliefs. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 3(2), 115-121.
13.
Herzog, A.
, Fultz, N., Normolle, D., Brock, B., & Diokno, A. (1989). Methods used to manage urinary incontinence by older adults in the community. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 3, 339-347.
14.
Holst, K.
, & Wilson, P. (1988). The prevalence of female urinary incontinence and reasons for not seeking help. New Zealand Medical Journal, 101, 756-758.
15.
King, I.
(1981). A theory for nursing: Systems, concepts, process. New York: John Wiley.
16.
Lukaz, K.
(1995). Urinary incontinence: Suffering in isolation. Canadian Nurse, 91(5), 26-27.
17.
McCormick, K.
, & Burgio, K. (1987). Incontinence: An update on nursing care measures. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 10(10), 16-23.
18.
McDowell, B.
, Engberg, S., Rodriguez, E., Engeberg, R., & Sereika, S. (1996). Characteristics of urinary incontinence in homebound older adults. Journal of American Geriatrics Society, 44, 963-968.
19.
McGrother, C.
, Castledon, C., Duffin, H., & Clark, M. (1987). A profile of disordered micturition in the elderly at the home. Age and Aging, 16, 105-110.
20.
Miles, M.
, & Huberman, A. (1994). Qualitative data analysis(2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
21.
Mitteness, L.
(1987). The management of urinary incontinence by communitydwelling elderly. The Gerontologist, 27(2), 185-193.
22.
Morgan, D.
(1993). Qualitative content analysis: A guide to paths not taken. Qualitative Health Research, 3(1), 112-121.
23.
Nakanishi, N.
, Tatara, K., Naramura, H., Fujiwara, H., Takashima, Y., & Fukada, H. (1997). Urinary and fecal incontinence in a community-residing older population in Japan. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 45, 215-219.
24.
National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference
. (1990). Urinary incontinence in adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 38, 265-272.
25.
Niewijk, A.
, & Weijts, W. (1997). Effects of a multi-media course on urinary incontinence. Patient Education and Counseling, 30, 95-103.
26.
Norton, P.
, MacDonald, L., Sedgwick, P., & Stanton, S. (1988). Distress and delay associated with urinary incontinence, frequency, and urgency in women. British Medical Journal, 297, 1187-1189.
27.
Palmer, M.
(1988). Incontinence: The magnitude of the problem. Nursing Clinics of North America, 23(1), 139-157.
28.
Patton, M.
(1990). Qualitative and evaluation research methods. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
29.
Pender, N.
(1996). Health promotion in nursing practice. Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange.
30.
Polit, D.
, & Hungler, B. (1995). Nursing research. Principles and methods. New York: J. B. Lippincott.
31.
Polit, D.
(1996). Data analysis and statistics for nursing research. Stamford, CT: Appleton & Lange.
32.
Simons, J.
(1985). Does incontinence affect your client’s self-concept?Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 11(6), 37-41.
33.
Strain, L.
(1991). Use of health services in later life: The influence of health beliefs. Journal of Gerontology, 46(3), 143-150.
34.
Sueppel, C.
, Arthur, C., Van Why, K., Lepic, M., & Fountain, K. (1996). A comprehensive screening program for urinary dysfunction in older adults. Urologic Nursing, 16(1), 14-20.
35.
Talbot, L.
, & Cox, M. (1995). Differences in coping strategies among community-residing older adults with functional urinary continence, dysfunctional urinary continence, and actual urinary incontinence. Ostomy and Wound Management, 41(10), 30-35.
